With just over two weeks to go until the delayed 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) kicks off in Morocco, the anticipation in Nigerian football circles is steadily building.
The Super Falcons — Africa’s most successful women’s football team with nine titles from 12 editions — will once again be among the favourites, chasing a record-extending tenth crown and aiming to reclaim continental supremacy from current holders South Africa.
And yet, for all the excitement, one critical piece remains missing: the squad list.
The Nigeria Football Federation has yet to name its team for the tournament, leaving fans, media, and probably even the coaching staff in the dark.
For head coach Justin Madugu, the clock is ticking loudly, and questions linger — when will the list be unveiled, when will camp open, and when will tactical chemistry begin to take shape?
Still, one thing is clear: Nigeria remain richly blessed with talent.
While established names like Asisat Oshoala, Chiamaka Nnadozie, Jennifer Echegini, Rasheedat Ajibade, and Osinachi Ohale will be expected to lead the charge, there are several lesser-talked-about stars whose inclusion could elevate the Super Falcons from contenders to champions.
Here are five such players who can light up WAFCON 2024 and take Nigeria to the summit of African football once again.
1. Edna Imade – Nigeria’s secret weapon in Spain
Edna Imade has quietly developed into one of the most lethal forwards in Spain’s Liga F, finishing the 2024/25 campaign with 16 goals and one assist in 29 appearances for Granada — only her second season in the top flight. That tally made her the second-highest scorer in the league, outshining even the Super Falcons’ current stars like Rasheedat Ajibade (7 goals for Atlético Madrid) and Rinsola Babajide (10 goals for Tenerife).
Born in Morocco to Nigerian parents and raised in Spain, Imade is eligible for all three countries but remains uncapped at senior international level.
Nigeria’s continued struggle for goals — just one in three games at the 2024 Olympics and two in four qualifiers prior — makes Imade’s clinical finishing an urgent necessity. A composed finisher, intelligent mover, and natural predator in the box, Imade could be the spark Nigeria has been missing in the final third.
2. Esther Okoronkwo – Nigeria’s X-factor tearing strongholds apart in Canada
Esther Okoronkwo is in the form of her life at AFC Toronto in Canada’s Northern Super League.
Since joining the newly-formed club in February 2025, the forward has not only become the team’s attacking heartbeat but also a fan favourite, scoring three goals in four games in May, including a stunning match-winner against Montreal Roses that earned her the league’s Goal of the Week.
Impressive performance by Super Falcons Esther Okoronkwo.
Player of the month for May with 3 goals in 4 matches in the Canadian Northern Super League #MTNSuperfalconsshow #MissionPossible pic.twitter.com/6GJSrJcNaU
— The Super Falcons Show (@Superfalconshow) June 7, 2025
Okoronkwo, who previously featured for Nigeria at the 2022 WAFCON and 2023 World Cup, brings pace, directness, and a powerful shot to the front line. Her recent resurgence is timely and could prove invaluable to Nigeria’s ambitions in Morocco.
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3. Joy Omewa – Denmark’s queen of goals
If any Nigerian forward deserves a call-up based on sheer numbers, it’s Joy Omewa.
The 22-year-old was a revelation for Fortuna Hjørring in the Danish Women’s League, racking up 22 goals and 4 assists in just 23 matches. Her contributions powered her team to a domestic double — winning both the league and the cup — and earned her the prestigious Player of the Season award.
Omewa has already donned the green and white at U17 and U20 levels and now looks primed for the senior stage. Her sharp instincts, composure in front of goal, and aerial ability could be decisive against Africa’s best.
4. Ashleigh Plumptre – The glue in Super Falcons’ defence
Ashleigh Plumptre’s leadership, versatility, and class were all on show during Nigeria’s gritty 2023 Women’s World Cup and 2024 Olympics campaigns.
Yet, since her post-Olympics break from national duty, Nigeria’s backline has looked uncertain.
Her 2024/25 season at Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia was stellar: 5 goals, 6 assists, and a commanding presence in multiple positions.
Whether deployed at centre-back, full-back, or central midfield, Plumptre’s return would bring calm, direction, and elite quality to Nigeria’s defensive unit — a necessity in the cauldron of WAFCON football.
5. Monle Omini Oyono – The home-based star deserving a shot
If the Super Falcons are to go to Morocco with the best talent available, then Monle Omini Oyono must make the list — particularly as the third-choice goalkeeper slot is often reserved for NWFL talents.
The Edo Queens shot-stopper has been Nigeria’s most consistent home-based goalkeeper, regularly turning heads with her reflexes, command of the box, and leadership.
Oyono played a crucial role as Edo Queens won the NWFL Premiership title last year, the club’s first-ever triumph.
5. Inter-Club Player of the Year
– Emem Essien (Edo Queens)
– Monle Oyono (Edo Queens) pic.twitter.com/30p24f31NR— A2Z Football Hub ⚫ (@a2zfootballhub) November 20, 2024
A veteran of the 2022 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, former Bayelsa Queens star Oyono was nominated for CAF’s 2024 Interclub Player of the Year award — an exceptional feat for a goalkeeper. She deserves more than a courtesy slot; she has earned her place on merit.
Soccernet.ng‘s final verdict
WAFCON 2024 presents Nigeria with both a challenge and an opportunity: reclaim the title and reassert dominance, or risk falling further behind an increasingly competitive African field.
By trusting in top-performing talents like Imade, Okoronkwo, Omewa, Plumptre, and Oyono, the Super Falcons could field a truly formidable team.
It’s now up to coach Madugu and the NFF to make bold, merit-based decisions that prioritise performance over politics.